Your don’t need to be under the weather—or chilled by the weather—to savor a good bowl of jook, especially with the countless options in Honolulu. From simmering Chinese congee with pork and century-old egg to a Vietnamese version brimming with beef, herbs and a fried egg, rice porridge sheds its bland reputation with bold options. Here are eight of our faves.

Aloha Manapua

This is our hidden gem of jook. Tucked in Mānoa Marketplace, Island Manapua may be more well known for its dim sum, roast pork and of course, manapua. But they also make a delicious turkey jook ($9.95), which tastes like what your mom makes the day after Thanksgiving, with chunks of roasted turkey.

2752 Woodlawn Drive, (808) 988-5441, alohamanapua.com, @alohamanapua

Golden Duck

Frolic contributor Melissa Chang describes this congee—the pork and preserved egg ($13,99) is her favorite—as “simple, and relatively cheap. And they have the 100-year-old egg (pidan), which I always want in my jook. Whenever I get sick, and if I’m mobile, I go there.”

1221 S. King St., (808) 597-8088, goldenduckchinese.com, @goldenduckchinese

Photo: Diane Seo

Golden Eagle

HONOLULU’s Andrea Lee says the jook here—she gets the pork and century egg too ($14.99)—is savory and smooth, not too thick or watery and with generous portions of meat and egg.

2334 S. King St., (808) 955-5080, goldeneaglehawaii.com, @goldeneaglehonolulu

Ireh

This is our go-to for Korean-style jook ($16.95–$20.95) with lots varieties, including abalone, beef, seafood, chicken, vegetables and more. Ireh has mastered the clean congee category, with mild seasonings that are comforting to the belly. Plus, it comes with kimchee and pickled onions to add both spice and tang.

629 Ke‘eaumoku St., (808) 943-6000, @irehkoreanrestaurant

Photo: Andrea Lee

Kapi‘olani Seafood Restaurant

Mr. Lee—HONOLULU’s Andrea Lee’s father and our resident Chinese food expert—singles out the jook here as “exceptional.” One spoonful of the sliced pork with preserved egg rice porridge ($14.50), and we understand the reason for the rave. It’s the perfect consistency, not too thick or soupy, and the pork and century egg deliver just the right amount of flavor, with no need for extra salt or pepper or soy sauce.

1538 Kapi‘olani Blvd. #107, (808) 946-8688, @kapiolaniseafoodrestaurant

SEE ALSO: Good-Time Dim Sum at Kapi‘olani Seafood Restaurant

Koko Head Café

The breakfast congee here ($19) takes your classic rice porridge and kicks it up much more than a notch with Portuguese sausage, ham, a poached egg, cheddar, scallions and (hello!) cinnamon bacon fat croutons. While that may seem like a meaty mess, the unexpected combination of savory ingredients melds into a breakfast entree worthy of being your repeat order.

1120 12th Ave., (808) 732-8920, kokoheadcafe.com, @kokoheadcafe

Photo: Thomas Obungen

Lam’s Kitchen

We love Lam’s for its beef noodle soup, but it also turns out eight varieties of congee ($8.25–$11.50) that are gingery and thick, made with a hearty beef broth. These include otherwise hard-to-find options like pork liver jook. Always add a youtiao (Chinese donut stick) and chile oil.

1152 Maunakea St., (808) 536-6222, lamskitchenhawaii.com

SEE ALSO: Restaurants We Love: Resonant Stories From the Best Restaurants in Honolulu

Photo: Thomas Obungen

The Pig & the Lady

At the KCC farmers market on Saturday mornings, The Pig & the Lady offers chao, a Vietnamese jook with bits of beef, a mountain of herbs and a fried egg. “It lasts multiple meals or can be shared. They always have broths that are dialed in, and the chao is no exception,” says Frolic’s Thomas Obungen.

KCC Farmers Market, 4303 Diamond Head Road, thepigandthelady.com, @pigandthelady

Photo: Alexander Gates

It feels like 2024 is coming to close just as quickly as it started. While the beer scene in the rest of the country has stagnated, with established breweries closing their doors, the scene in Hawai‘i is growing: New breweries and taprooms will appear on all the major islands. In fact, 2025 may see more openings than any year in recent memory, including Hammerhead Bay Brewing in Kāne‘ohe, Koa Brewing Co. on Maui and Lē‘ahi Brewing Co. on Honolulu’s waterfront. We may only have a few breweries per capita, but the flip side of that is there is room for new vision.

2024: Hellos, Goodbyes and Everything Else

A year after its facility was destroyed in the Maui wildfires, Koholā Brewery opened its new taproom at the Shops at Wailea in August. Thanks to a robust partnership with Kona Brewing Hawai‘i, Koholā’s flagship beers have returned to beer shelves statewide. Its draft selections are also pouring on taps again, helping reestablish the brand.

Mucho Aloha Brewhouse in Kōloa is the newest brewery on Kaua‘i. Its restaurant and taproom is already going strong, with beers making their way to bars and festivals. On O‘ahu, Village Bottle Shop & Tasting Room expanded with a second location in Kapolei, with a full menu of food to pair with an excellent selection of draft and packaged beer from around the world for West O‘ahu’s growing population.

SEE ALSO: Village Beer Just Opened a Bigger Bottle Shop and Eatery in Kapolei

Its block slated for demolition and redevelopment, Beer Lab Hawai‘i closed its original University brewery and taproom; unexpectedly, it also closed its larger Waipio facility in February. Thankfully, the local chain transitioned all production to its Beretania beer garden and opened a new lounge and bar at Puck’s Alley off University Avenue.

In Kailua, Grace in Growlers closed in March after many beer-driven charitable outreach projects since opening in 2016. Honolulu Beerworks closed its original brewpub and restaurant on Cooke Street and will open a larger facility, including a taproom, in Kapālama in 2025. Beerworks’ canned and kegged beer is still on store shelves and available for takeout at the brewery. Kalihi Beer, meanwhile, is moving to a new location in early 2025.

Big changes came for two established O‘ahu brands: Aloha Beer Co. closed its Downtown and Kalākaua locations and took over Waikīkī Brewing’s Kaka‘ako facility, a move that allows for more brewing of canned beer, including contract brewing for other local breweries. Waikīkī Brewing moved production back to its OG Waikīkī location and took over Aloha Beer’s Kalākaua beer garden, with a new food menu. This writer is thankful these changes are already benefiting both breweries.

Every beer festival returned to full form this year, including Kona Brewers Festival, Maui Brewers Festival, Hilo Brewfest and Kaua‘i Brewers Festival, plus winter and summer events for the Hawai‘i Beer Fest at the Bishop Museum on O‘ahu.

SEE ALSO: Aloha Beer and Waikīkī Brewing Trade Places, Honolulu Beerworks Is Moving and More Local Beer News

My Favorite Beers of 2024

I would personally like to say mahalo to the Frolic Hawai‘i team for letting me share my favorite beers of the year. Those who know me know it means a lot not just to share this personal passion, but also to help celebrate and advocate for local beer and the people who make it.

If this is your first time reading my annual rundown, the process is highly scientific: I pick the beers I loved drinking. I chose one new 2024 release from every brewery statewide. Each brewery has its own signatures and strengths. I encourage you to visit them all and hear their stories.

O‘ahu

Aloha Beer Co.: Aww Rye! Unfiltered Rye IPA ABV 6.2%—Rye gives beer a spicy earthiness. This excellently balanced that with the pronounced hop profile of an IPA.

Beer Lab Hawai‘i: Cane Fire Smoked Red Ale ABV 7.3%—This collaboration with Wild Ride Brewing in Redmond, Oregon, showcases the smoked meat flavors balanced with the sweetness from the grain. It was savory and refreshing at the same time.

SEE ALSO: Beer Lab Opens a Fun Bar and Lounge with Food at Puck’s Alley

Hana Koa Brewing Co.: Space Dinosaur Hazy IPA ABV 7.5%—A triple collaboration commemorating the brewery’s fifth anniversary, Hana Koa and the teams from Inu Island Ales and Howzit Brewing crafted arguably the best beer of the year. It’s bright and citrusy/tropical, with a soft mouthfeel.

Honolulu Beerworks: NE Trades West Coast IPA ABV 6%—A collaboration with Tribus Beer Co in Milford, Connecticut, this brilliantly clear IPA had pronounced bitterness and flavors of stone fruits.

Howzit Brewing: TL;DR Cold IPA ABV 6.3%—The Cold IPA trend is exemplified in this beer, a collaboration with Inu Island Ales, with full flavors of bitter citrus and a delightful dryness that keeps you wanting more.

Inu Island Ales: Pistachio Latte Pastry Stout 11.8%—A giant strong and sweet stout, this showcased Bolivian Dark Roast coffee from Tradition Coffee Roasters in Kailua. The Madagascar vanilla beans and namesake pistachios brightly shined through for a delectable dessert in a glass.

Kalihi Beer: Mauka to Makai IPL ABV 4.9%—Brewed especially for Kalapawai Café & Deli locations, this crisp and refreshing lager is loaded with bright, grapefruity hops, the perfect accompaniment to beach foods.

Lanikai Brewing Co.: Pā‘ina Festbier ABV 6.1%—A collaboration with Punalu‘u Bake Shop, this light and bready German style lager is made with Punalu‘u’s famous Taro Sweet Bread, giving a local spin to a famous style.

Lōkahi Brewing Co.: Calamansi Crush ABV 5.6%—Lōkahi pivoted to producing mainly sour and fruited beers; this kettle sour with orange, lemon and calamansi imparts bright flavors of each to pucker the palate.

Waikīkī Brewing Co.: Latitude 41 Italian Pilsner ABV 5%—With a new brewer returning its beer to great form, 2024 saw a number of standouts across Waikīkī’s rainbow of styles. I had a soft spot for this one, a combination of Italian pilsner characters like a crisp and dry body, plus the wine wine grape flavors of New Zealand hops. The name is a reference to the parallel that runs through both places.

Hawai‘i Island

Kona Brewing Hawai‘i: Boots! … I Did It Again! Black IPA ABV 7.3%—For the annual Pink Boots Society Brew Day supporting scholarships for women and LGBTQA+ in the beer industry this year, Kona Brewing took the given hop blend and created something different: a black IPA with the signature roasty flavors of the malt and intense pine hop flavors.

Ola Brew Co.: Dark Cacao Altbier ABV 4.5%—One of Ola’s limited can releases, this rare German ale style of rich malt balanced well with the bitter and earthy dark cacao beans while still being light and easy to drink.

Wailuku Brew Works: Big Kahuna Belgian Strong Dark Ale ABV 10.9%—Hilo’s newest brewery has already made a name for itself with excellent offerings at festivals statewide. This giant beer is sweet and slick with candy sugar and banana/clove esters popular in Belgium.

Maui

Koholā Brewery: Laulima Session IPA ABV 5.3%—For a brewery without a brewing facility, Koholā made a mark this year. It celebrated the opening of its new taproom by collaborating with Kona Brewing Hawai‘i to make a commemorative beer. This super light session IPA was made with locally sourced dragonfruit for a light purple hue and tropical flavor.

SEE ALSO: Welcome Back, Koholā! A Brewery Destroyed in Last Year’s Fire Reopens

Mahalo Aleworks: Me & You American IPA ABV 6.4%—A collaboration with Hana Koa Brewing, this light West Coast IPA has tropical notes and is packed with newer Elani and classic Idaho 7 hops.

Maui Brewing Co.: Canoe Club California Common ABV 4.5%—With the (hopefully temporary) loss of the famous Anchor Brewing in San Francisco, MBC brewed Canoe Club as an homage to the Anchor Steam beer that was a gateway for many beer fans into the world of craft.

Kaua‘i

Kaua‘i Beer Co.: Austrian Chicken Vienna Lager ABV 6.4%—A bright and refreshing copper lager with hints of rich caramel, this is a great pairing for KBC’s food and the hot Līhu‘e sunshine.

Kaua‘i Island Brewing Co.: Helles Hath No Fury ABV 4.4%—With a second taproom and expansion of its original facility in Port Allen, it’s easy to find KIB beers—but only on Kaua‘i. A bright and clean Helles is a delicious complement on a cruise break or after fishing.

Nāpali Brewing Co.: Hamajang IPA Hazy IPA ABV 5.8%—Celebrating its first year, and with a new famous brewer taking the helm, Nāpali Brewing is already making waves. This hazy IPA is a solid offering that I got to enjoy at Kaua‘i Brewers Festival.

Mucho Aloha Brewhouse: Chili Peppah Watah Japanese Rice Lager ABV 4.1%—Another one I got to try for the first time this year, this was a great combination of an ultra light and slightly sweet rice lager with a noticeable kick of chile peppers, a great pairing for salty and spicy foods.

I had many great beers from the following breweries, though not any new ones. Cheers to Big Island Brewhaus, Hilo Brewing Co. and Kohanaiki Brewery!

What were your favorites? Whatever you chose, thank you for reading and supporting local beer in Hawai‘i.

Pork chop at Cino

Photo: Mari Taketa

Pork has been a revelation for me this year, how it can arrive at the table nicely seared but still gratifyingly pink and juicy in the middle. Cino’s dry-aged pork chop is the best example and one I crave. Bare naked on the platter, with only a sprinkle of coarse salt crystals and a clear, singing sauce of apple reduction with Amaro Averna, it’s a pre-sliced medley of yielding flesh and crisped fat with a bonus meaty bone you’ll pick up with your fingers and gnaw, Cino’s dress-up vibes notwithstanding.—Mari Taketa

987 Queen St., cinohawaii.com, @cinohawaii

SEE ALSO: Hale ‘Aina Voters Declare Cino the Best New Restaurant of 2024

Saigon Special at Le’s Banh Mi

Photo: Martha Cheng

Le’s Banh Mi made the list in 2022, and this shop at 808 Center still makes my favorite banh mi—perfectly proportioned with pâté, headcheese and char siu, encased in the housemade, soft and fluffy yet delicately crackly bread. It’s probably what I eat the most when I’m not cooking, and I always try to get one for the plane when I’m traveling.—Martha Cheng

808 Sheridan St. Suite 306B, (808) 227-3066, @les_banhmi

SEE ALSO: Best of HONOLULU 2024: Food and Drinks on O‘ahu

Patê Sô at Anh Chị Em Bakery

Photo: Andrea Lee

Buttery. Flaky. Savory. I got lost in the layers of Diana Hai Hoa Pham’s patê sô, a French-inspired Vietnamese puff pastry with a savory pork filling after HONOLULU’s Andrea Lee wrote about Anh Chị Em Bakery. The first bite led to flakes of pastry in my lap, then time stood still as I revisited one of my favorite discoveries while living in Southern California’s Little Saigon. On Saturdays, there’s not much else I want to eat at 10 a.m. —Thomas Obungen

@anhchiembakery

SEE ALSO: All the Reasons Why Anh Chị Em Is My New Favorite Bakery

Prosciutto San Daniele at Giovedì

Photo: Katrina Valcourt

Although I’m still working my way through Giovedì’s menu (that’s how much I enjoyed my first few visits), and crave the ‘ahi carpaccio, it’s the bánh tiêu that I can’t stop thinking about. Giovedì’s marriage of Vietnamese and Italian flavors shines in an offering of hollow sesame doughnuts filled with delicate prosciutto and giardiniera, an assortment of pickled vegetables. When Encore moved out of this space, it left a hole in my heart, but Giovedì has filled it deftly. —Katrina Valcourt

10 N. Hotel St., giovedihawaii.com, @giovedirestaurant

The Seven Salads at Leila

Photo: Melissa Chang

The first course of Leila’s prix fixe menu is a dazzling sight as it’s carefully arranged on each table at Leila, a new Moroccan restaurant in Kaimukī launched by chefs Chris Kajioka and Mourad Lahlou. But it’s the intricate, diverse flavors that make these seven Mediterranean “salads” show-stopping and exquisite. Smoky, sweet, tangy, earthy, minty, nutty—you get all of that from the citrusy olives, eggplant with pine nuts and herbs, piquillo peppers, trout roe with dill, white bean hummus, tomato jam with ginger and smoky hearts of palm. Served with warm za‘atar flatbread and vegetables, I could have eaten just this course and come away raving.—Diane Seo

1108 12th Ave., leilahnl.com, @leila_kaimuki

SEE ALSO: Leila Brings a Refined Taste of Morocco to Kaimukī

Beef noodle soup at Seasons Taiwanese Eatery

Photo: Gregg Hoshida

Since I started visiting my in-laws in Taipei, Taiwanese cuisine—like oyster omelets served in seconds at a night market, pan-fried pork bao for 30 cents from a street vendor and the huge hunks of fried chicken at Hot Star—slowly has become part of my food DNA. But nothing says Taiwan to me more than a soulful bowl of beef noodle soup. The version at Seasons Taiwanese Eatery in Chinatown’s Chinese Cultural Plaza, with its rich broth, chewy noodles and pillowy cubes of beef and tendon, takes me straight to Taipei. This is the noodle soup you didn’t know you needed until now. —Gregg Hoshida

100 N. Beretania St., Suite 109, @seasons_taiwan_eatery

SEE ALSO: Chinatown’s Seasons Glows Up: Now It’s Fully a Taiwanese Eatery

Cold Skin Noodles at Over Easy

Photo: Robbie Dingeman

A dish from China’s Shaanxi province, this little bowl of clams served with chilled springy liangpi (cold skin noodles), topped with peanuts, spicy, housemade chile crunch, cucumbers and cilantro looked so simple but brought so much flavor. This was the second course of a noodle tasting menu that chef Nik Lobendahn and the Over Easy kitchen crew created in November as an homage to the Chef’s Table Netflix season focused on noodles across the globe. Here’s to more noodle nights in 2025.—Robbie Dingeman

418 Ku‘ulei Road, #103, Kailua, (808) 260-1732, overeasyhi.com, @overeasyhi

Smoked turkey pho at Kapa Hale

Photo: Andrea Lee

The turkey is brined, smoked and braised, while bones are added to infuse even more flavor into the pho broth. Pickled cranberries and a squeeze of lime bring the zest. Smoky and citrusy, it’s a one-two punch of flavor that led me to devour the whole bowl, which unfortunately was part of a special holiday pop-up and isn’t on the regular menu. You’ll have one more opportunity to try it this year though—chef Keaka Lee says Kapa Hale will hold another holiday noodle bar around Christmas.—Andrea Lee

Kapa Hale, 4614 Kilauea Ave. Suite #102, (808) 888-2060, kapahale.com, @4614kapahale

French Dover Sole at Miller & Lux Hualālai

Photo: Maria Burke

Even when a Food Network chef like Tyler Florence is involved, I never expect much of hotel restaurants. Which is why I was surprised to be wooed by this Four Seasons Resort steakhouse. But it wasn’t the meat that beguiled me—it was the French dover sole prepared a la meunière. A beautifully plump, roasted fillet is carefully deboned tableside, then draped in a velvety concoction of browned butter, meyer lemon and capers. The whole thing is then topped with fistfuls of fresh parsley, watercress and frisée. Delicately sweet and vivid, as well as rich and bright—and oh so simple—it’s truly sublime.—Maria Burke

72-100 Ka‘upulehu Drive, (808) 325-8000, fourseasons.com, @millerandlux

Garlic Malungay Noodles at Balai Pata

Photo: Melissa Chang

I still think about this dish at Balai Pata, Joey Macadangdang’s restaurant in Kahului. He tosses chewy noodles in a garlic soy butter, which hits all the comfort notes for me in terms of taste and texture. Don’t believe me? Just ask Koko Head Café chef Lee Anne Wong, who got three orders for her birthday and refers all of her visiting celebrity chef friends there.—Melissa Chang

425 Koloa St., Kahului, (808) 727-2230, balaipatahi.com, @balaipata

SEE ALSO: In Kahului, Balai Pata Is a Celebration of Filipino Fare

Editor’s Note: After Tuesday’s thunderous downpours and nail-biter elections, we could all use some soul-soothing. That’s what you’ll find in these five bowls—readers’ top picks from our January 2022 poll asking for their favorite version of a local classic.

Oxtail soup, not surprisingly, is subjective. Do you like a clean, classic broth or a deeper one rich with spices and mushrooms? Leafy greens twined through the oxtails or no veggies at all? Don’t even get us started on peanuts. Or are you forever smitten with the version you grew up with?

With several restaurants around the island laying claim to the tastiest oxtail soup, we put the vote to you, our readers. More than 1,200 of you weighed in, many writing in your favorites. Props to all who voted for your own recipe or your dad’s or brother-in-law’s and to those eateries that led the write-in voting: Guieb Cafe, Rokaru Shabu Shabu, Tanaka Saimin and MW Restaurant.

Among the top vote-getters, voting was very close among Nos. 2 to 5, but you left absolutely no doubt about your No. 1 choice. Here are O‘ahu’s favorite oxtail soups.

No. 5: Espresso Bar at Neiman Marcus

Photo: Sean Morris

This may seem like a surprise pick, with 5.8% of votes cast, but the oxtail soup at Neiman Marcus Ala Moana’s Espresso Bar has had a following for years. The off-menu item is a Thursday special at this lunch café and often sells out by noon, so best to get there early. Remember, Thursdays only!

1450 Ala Moana Blvd., (808) 951-3445, stores.neimanmarcus.com

No. 4: Zippy’s

Photo: Mari Taketa

Because sometimes you need oxtail soup at midnight. Because you need it everywhere. Because the meat is fall-off-the-bone tender, and because there’s peanuts. The oxtail soup at this favorite local chain got 6.8% of reader votes.

Multiple locations, zippys.com, @zippys

No. 3: Asahi Grill Ward

Photo: Mari Taketa

Another famous old-school classic, this purist version with clear, collagen-rich, sticky-lip broth and nothing else in the bowl save big, tender oxtails with cilantro and green onion got 8.2% of the vote. Not to be confused with Asahi Grill Ke‘eaumoku, now known as Asahi Grill Kaimukī after its move to Wai‘alae Avenue.

515 Ward Ave., (808) 593-2800

No. 2: Kapi‘olani Coffee Shop

Photo: Lee Tonouchi

It’s in Waimalu now, but Kapi‘olani Coffee Shop traces its roots back to the old Aloha Motors site, aka where the Hawai‘i Convention Center is now on Kapi‘olani Boulevard, in the 1960s. With a classic broth, this bowl from the self-proclaimed “Home of the Famous Oxtail Soup” drew 8.4% of reader votes.

98-020 Kamehameha Hwy, (808) 488-7708

SEE ALSO: Battle of Two Legendary Oxtail Soups

No. 1: The Alley at ‘Aiea Bowl

Photo: Martha Cheng

OMG, O‘ahu! Seriously, 32% of all votes cast? We knew the oxtail soup at this bowling alley restaurant had buzz, but the Alley’s bowl dominated this poll. New-school touches include house-made ponzu sauce for dipping. Next time you go for the tasty chicken and a slice of lemon, pumpkin or strawberry crunch, don’t sleep on the oxtail soup.

99-115 Aiea Heights Dr., (808) 488-6854, aieabowl.com/restaurant, @aieabowl

SEE ALSO:

• You Voted: Here’s Your Top 5 Ramen Shops on O‘ahu
• You Voted: Here’s Your Top 5 Saimin Spots on O‘ahu
• You Voted: Here’s Your Top 5 Okazuya on O’ahu
• You Voted: Here’s Your Top 5 Classic Loco Mocos
• You Voted: Here’s Your Top 5 Poke Shops

Editor’s Note: We published these reader poll results in June 2023 in the heat of summer after our own ranking of shave ice was decidedly different from our readers’ picks. Well, it might be after the autumn equinox, but it still feels like summer heat has a grip on us. Now’s a good time to remind you to find solace in as many icy treats possible. 

When it comes to shave ice, it’s a difficult task for anyone to name one shop the best over another. With so many factors to consider, from the texture of the snow to the intensity of the syrups and the quality of the toppings, one list isn’t going to truly show the depth and breadth of our love for this icy treat. So we put the question to our readers, asking them to vote for their favorites.

We learned that although many of Honolulu’s new-age shave ice shops have passionate followings, the classics we grew up with have staying power. Thanks to this list, it looks like we have a lot more ground to cover and we’re not mad about it: Our reader poll last Friday listed 26 shave ice shops across O‘ahu; readers wrote in more than two dozen others. The No. 1 shave ice purveyor isn’t even a shop, but it commanded nearly a third of the total vote. The rest of the race was much closer, with some shops separated by a mere few votes.

Get your spoons ready—these are your picks for the top 5 shave ice on O‘ahu.

Photo: Melissa Chang

No. 5: Shimazu Store

Pass by this iconic shop on School Street on a hot day, and you’ll see a crowd outside enjoying enormous ice cones. A second location inside Hawai‘i’s Favorite Kitchens in Kapahulu is also a must-stop for locals and visitors. With 6.3% of the total vote in our reader poll, Shimazu Store proves that when you stick to the classics, folks from all generations will gladly return for a taste of small-kid time in the form of huge shave ice cones.

Multiple locations, @shimazustoreliliha, @shimazu_shave_ice

SEE ALSO: Shades of Shave Ice: Kapahulu Is Home to Two Old-School Shave Ice Institutions

Photo: Courtesy of Kaulana Shave Ice Creations

No. 4: Kaulana Shave Ice Creations

Another standout on this list, Kaulana Shave Ice Creations isn’t even searchable on Google Maps. But with 6.4% of the vote, passionate fans put it on the map. To get your hands on these icy bowls, you either have to be invited to a party that’s serving them up or attend one of the street festivals where Kaulana pops up.

@kaulana.shaveicecreations

Photo: Courtesy of 6Sixty Apparel

No. 3: Jax Snax (Fomerly 6Sixty Apparel)

Is it strange that a clothing store in Wahiawā would wind up among the Top 5 shave ice on O‘ahu? Not when you realize that they can pump out serious bowls topped with everything from gummy bears to Fruity Pebbles and li hing mui powder. With just five more votes than Kaulana Shave Ice Creations, 6Sixty Apparel lands in the Top 3 shave ice shops on O‘ahu.

670 California Ave., (808) 200-2418, @jaxsnaxhawaii 

SEE ALSO: Best Shave Ice on O‘ahu

Photo: Thomas Obungen

No. 2: Waiola Shave Ice

One of our team’s favorites is also one of your favorites. Despite the somewhat strict ordering criteria and some difficult parking at peak times, Waiola is always worth a visit on a hot summer day. Whether you like to hike it over to the Kapahulu location or chill on a side street in McCully, this is a destination for shave ice connoisseurs. Waiola comes in at second place on our list with 7.7% of the vote.

Multiple locations, (808) 949-2269, @waiolashaveice

Photo: Courtesy of Magic Mountain Shave Ice

No. 1: Mountain Magic Shave Ice

With a whopping 29% of the entire vote, this food trailer in a shopping center parking lot is your pick for the best shave ice on O‘ahu. Either we’re missing out or shopping for deals in Waikele makes everyone crave a sugarloaf mountain of ice dressed with syrups, mochi, ube caps and li hing powder. Once a cart near Lowe’s, Mountain Magic Shave Ice has since migrated to the fence near Dick’s Lechon and Leonard Jr’s Hot Malasadas. Given how warm it gets in West O‘ahu, shave ice is the perfect thirst-quenching treat.

Multiple locations, (808) 681-9582, @mountainmagicshaveice

With such close results, failing to mention the remaining shops in the Top 10 would be like forgetting to mention our best friends from hanabata time. They are:

No. 6: Ululani’s Shave Ice – 6.2% of the vote

No. 7: MM Island Shave Ice – 5.7%

No. 8: Chillest Shave Ice – 4.5%

No. 9: Matsumoto Shave Ice – 4.4%

No. 10: Uncle Clay’s House of Pure Aloha – 3.1%

Among write-in votes, the top four were Fine Time Shave Ice and Puchie’s Shave Ice, which both do events and catering, and ‘Ewa Seed Co. of ‘Ewa Beach and Aunty Kalei’s Shave Ice in Pacific Palisades.

Editor’s Note: Not much changes in the world of saimin, which is one of the reasons why Hawai‘i loves this nostalgic comfort bowl. This poll, originally published in September 2021, proves just that.

Photo: Mari Taketa

Last week, we asked you to name your favorite saimin spots on O‘ahu, and now, the results are in. Two places emerged as destination favorites, but judging from the geographic spread of Your Top 5 spots, we can safely say this: The entire island loves saimin!

Only five votes separated the top 2, which are in Kalihi and Wahiawā. These two saimin specialists accounted for 51% of the nearly 1,000 votes cast, and like the other faves, have their roots deep in Hawai‘i’s saimin past. Let’s duly note that O‘ahu loves all kinds of noodle bowls since many write-in votes were actually for ramen and even lo mein and won ton mein. And a final note before we get to the results: This post is even more meaningful because since we published our own ranking in March 2019, two of those five spots have closed.

So here it is, O‘ahu: Your Top 5 spots for steaming-hot, old-school bowls around the island.

SEE ALSO: Best Saimin: Our Top 5

No. 5: Sekiya’s Restaurant & Deli

Photo: Mari Taketa

With thick, firm noodles in a broth redolent of shrimp stock, this old-school favorite across Kaimukī High School is one for the ages with 6% of votes. The original deli dates back to 1935, it’s still owned and run by the same family and the saimin can be had with other faves from the restaurant and okazuya counter.

2746 Kaimukī Ave., (808) 732-1656, sekiyasrestaurant.com, @sekiyarestaurant

No. 4: Tanaka Saimin

The newbie of this Top 5, at only 10 years old, garnered 7.3% of the O‘ahu saimin vote. Here, you can get oyako (simmered chicken and egg) saimin, oxtail saimin and even moyashi (beansprout) saimin. If that sounds familiar, it’s because Tanaka is run by members of the family of now-shuttered Dillingham Saimin and before that, Boulevard Saimin.

888 N. Nimitz Hwy., (808) 524-2020, tanakasaimin.com, @tanakasaimin

No. 3: Shiro’s Saimin Haven

Photo: Lee Tonouchi

The light-tasting original broth has some clam and some bonito flakes, and Shiro’s makes its own noodles daily, but its biggest claim to fame is that you can get your saimin nearly 60 different ways, including with fried shrimp, pork adobo, Portuguese sausage or lumpia. The gigantic Dodonpa bowl piles on all of 10 different garnishes. This shop, which dates to 1969, got 17.1% of votes.

Multiple locations, shiros-saimin.com, @shirossaimin

No. 2: Palace Saimin

Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino

75-year-old Palace does everything the old-school way, including making original-recipe pork and dried shrimp broth and hand-wrapping its won tons. The only changes are a switch to Sun Noodles in recent years, and you no longer fill your own water cup from a water fountain (it’s served to your table now). Oh, and the barbecue sticks use fresh tri-tip grilled to order on the original grill. With 25.1% of the total vote, just five shy of No. 1, it’s clearly a destination for O‘ahu saimin lovers.

1256 N. King Street; (808) 841-9983

No. 1: Shige’s Saimin Stand

Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino

It’s official: Wahiawā’s favorite saimin house is also O‘ahu’s favorite. But since it got just five votes more than Palace Saimin, and the lead swung back and forth nearly every day, it’s probably safer to say the island has two clear favorites. The fact that townies drive out for Shige’s bowls and its plates of fried saimin, the noodles for which are made in-house, kind of made that a foregone conclusion already. Shige’s is pure old-school saimin in an old-school town, like many of our saimin shops, and we mean it when we say we love them all for that.

70 Kukui St., Suite 108, (808) 621-3621, @shigessaiminstand

Editor’s Note: National Chicken Wing Day is upon us again, and while we don’t normally celebrate food days because there are so clucking many, we can’t resist another look at this finger-lickin’ roundup. Originally published July 27, 2023, this was freelancer Mahina Chong’s first post for Frolic.

If you’re reading this, you’re probably like me. You love celebrating national food holidays but honestly, do you want to eat that one designated thing? No, you want options. Monday is National Chicken Wing Day. This island is capital-O Obsessed with Korean Fried Chicken (KFC), so I want to take you beyond the craze. Your girl craves diversity, so I rounded up my favorite fried chicken wings that aren’t KFC—seven spots that just so happen to offer a little sumthin’ extra.

In no particular order, these are my favorite fried chicken wings on O‘ahu.

J. Dolan’s

Photo: Mahina Chong

The wings at J. Dolan’s are the starter hype man everyone needs in their corner before the main pizza event. These wings are a must every time I visit, and once they hit the table, they’re gone. Friends have mentioned they have a subtle spicy kick, but to be fair, my spice taste buds are damaged beyond repair so I don’t even notice. Either way, these classic wings will always be the way to go before pizza.

Multiple locations, jdolans.com, @jdolanshnl

Sam’s Delicatessen

Photo: Mahina Chong

Hidden next to a laundromat on Nu‘uanu Avenue, this small local Korean barbecue serves one of the best examples of fried chicken wings. And while they may be Korean, I wouldn’t consider these wings KFC. Sam’s Deli is one of the nostalgia-filled places I turn to because it never lets me down. It’s the consistency. Far from dry, these juicy and plump wings are a hit at every party, and I never worry about them going soggy. Sam’s chicken wings with beer are the perfect pairing you didn’t know you needed.

1627 Nu‘uanu Ave., (808) 524-7777

SEE ALSO: Our Go-To: Fried Chicken in Honolulu

Aloha Vietnamese Foods

Photo: Mahina Chong

Onion pepper chicken wings, say less! Located among the many eateries at Old Stadium Square, this small Vietnamese takeout gem serves a wide range of dishes (remember, we like options!). The juicy onion pepper chicken wings are packed with savory salt-and-pepper flavor, and I love that they’re served with sautéed onions. Additional salt and pepper seasoning is included on the side. A squeeze of lemon juice over your wings only makes them better.

2320 S. King St., (808) 941-1170, @aloha_vietnamese_foods

The Pig & the Lady

Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino

My list wouldn’t be complete without these iconic wings whose popularity is well known and with good reason. The Le Fried Chicken (LFC) Wings carry a spectrum of robust flavors, from savory to sweet. Then they slap you with a sneak attack of pickled veggies and hints of fish sauce with every bite. I appreciate the double fry for that extra crisp bite and that they’re never dry.

83 N. King St., (808) 585-8255, thepigandthelady.com, @pigandthelady

Foodland

Photo: Katie Kenny

Feeling a bit snack-ish, but craving something more? Foodland’s salt and vinegar chicken wings are the happy medium. They’re easy to grab and go and taste like one of my favorite chip flavors, but better, because protein! The salt and vinegar coating isn’t strong enough to pucker your lips, but the addictive flavor sends jabs to your taste buds that will keep you reaching for another wing.

 Multiple locations, foodland.com, @foodlandhi

Yi Xin Café

Photo: Thomas Obungen

Calling all harm ha food lovers: These wings are for us. In a corner of Market City, this cute Hong Kong-style café marries two of my favorite things in one dish: Cantonese-style shrimp paste and chicken wings. That’s right, if a chicken and a shrimp had a family, these bad boys would be their legacy. The hint of shrimp after my first bite made me double take to make sure it was chicken. According to Mama Chong (my mom), these wings were popular at a dim sum restaurant in Chinatown years ago; she says these are nostalgic for her. If that’s not a rare seal of approval from a Chinese mom, I don’t know what is.

2919 Kapi‘olani Blvd., (808) 738-0818, @yi_xin_cafe_808

SEE ALSO: Yi Xin Brings Bold Flavors of Southeast Asia and Hong Kong

HK Café

Photo: Thomas Obungen

HK Café takes the simple route with a brine, dry and deep-fry method that locks the savory soy sauce flavor in the wing. Despite not having a crust, it delivers a thin crispiness on the outside that fascinates me to no end. These classic house special wings are the underrated sleeper you must try.

Multiple locations, @hkcafehawaii

SEE ALSO: Chinatown’s New HK Café Has Retro Vibes and Legit Noodles

Photo: Courtesy of Mahina Chong

Born and raised in Honolulu, Mahina is an avid local and national sports fanatic—so it’s fitting that her first post for Frolic celebrates National Chicken Wing Day. Mahina loves planning her travel adventures around food and is a self-proclaimed unofficial Disney Mouseketeer.

Kyle Tatsumoto’s Reader Top 5: Best Meaty Fried Rices on O‘ahu last month drew immediate responses—including 58 on our Instagram post, mostly from readers shouting out their own favorite meaty fried rices. Choices covered nearly the entire island, from Mililani Restaurant to Elena’s Restaurant in Waipahu to Bogart’s Café and Café Morey’s on Monsarrat and were pretty much all one-offs.

Except for one: Times Coffee Shop in Kailua. Amazingly, six readers shouted out the meaty fried rice at this 65-year-old institution on Hāmākua Drive:

Times Coffee Shop fried rice. Photo: Kyle Tatsumoto

@k00kykat8o8 U guys missing DA BEST breakfast fried rice @timescoffeeshopkailua ❤️❤️❤️ #handsdowndabest

@wutangcomedy yup. Any best fried rice list without Times even ranking is suspect!

@scottshiira Times Coffee Shop in Kailua is ono too

@hopenapokipala Mitsuba and Times Coffee Shop need to be in the conversation

@mclovinit73 Times coffee shop in Kailua is the best!

@jaahdan Times coffee shop

SEE ALSO: Old-School Diners We Love: Times Coffee Shop in Kailua

Naturally, we reached out to Kyle to ask if he’d tried Times’ famous fried rice. By this point, he was up to 93 meaty fried rice breakfasts around O‘ahu. He told us that while he’d had Times’ version, that was many years ago, and he would happily head over the Pali to try it again.

Last week, Kyle texted us:

Photo (and sign): Darrell Lee

“Today, we traveled to Kailua, to Times Coffee Shop, for my 100th fried rice. The fried rice was OK with lots of Portuguese sausage and bacon, but it didn’t have much seasoning. The Times Coffee Shop fried rice may have had too many round onions in it, causing the somewhat sweet taste. But the couple sitting across the aisle from us, tourists from California, paid for our breakfasts.”

So there you have it. To each his own—much of Hawai‘i does love a salty-sweet combo, but not Kyle. Then he added this bombshell:

“Café Kalawe ranks #5, knocking Jack’s [Restaurant] out of the Top 5.”

Whoa.

Café Kalawe. Photo: Kyle Tatsumoto

“Café Kalawe’s lup cheong fried rice has a lot of big chunks of lup cheong in addition to the Portuguese sausage and bacon,” he explained. “It had a lot of seasoning, maybe from the bacon grease.”

At this point, we had nothing but questions for Mr. 100 Meaty Fried Rices. Here’s a quick Q&A:

Frolic: What is it about meaty fried rice? What makes you seek it out above other dishes?

KT: I started ordering different things for breakfast. It’s impossible to eat pancakes or rice/eggs/sausage every week, but it is possible to eat fried rice. I think meat just balances the fried rice by adding flavor. It also adds chewy texture.

Frolic: Did you grow up eating and craving meaty fried rice?

KT: I grew up eating fried rice, but my mom usually made it healthier with a lot of vegetables. And it constantly changed, depending on what was leftover.

Frolic: What do your friends and family think about your quest?

KT: My mom and wife think my fried rice quest is crazy. Everyone else thinks it’s cool.

Frolic: Now that you’ve tried 100, what’s next for Kyle the eater?

KT: I originally thought I would quit at 100, but now people are suggesting new places to try, so will probably go to 105 or 110. Might try cake noodle or saimin after.

Congratulations, Kyle, and many mahalos! What will you discover on your cake noodle and saimin quests? Keep us posted!

SEE ALSO: 

Reader Top 5: Best Mac Salad on O‘ahu
Best Mac Salad on O‘ahu: Our Readers Weighed In